PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Anastasio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gab Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Junior's choice of entrance music: SOLDIERS HEART. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anastasio
vs
Junior

181 cm
26
190 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

184 cm
30
201 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Anastasio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gab Junior!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior connects with a crisp jab.
Junior looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anastasio throws a body punch but Junior moves out of range.
Junior on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Anastasio misses with a hook. Junior ducked under it nicely.
Anastasio thumps Junior with a low kick.
Junior blocks a jab.
Anastasio thows a body shot but no joy.
Anastasio misses with a left hand

and Junior counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Junior wants to break free but Anastasio has control.
Anastasio stalls.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Junior manages to pull guard.

Junior has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Anastasio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Anastasio has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Anastasio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior trying to control the position.
Junior looking for a sweep. Not yet Junior, not yet.
Anastasio showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Anastasio looking to pass the guard.
Junior looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Anthony Anastasio wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Junior throws a left and a right that both miss
and Anastasio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anastasio moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Anastasio.
Anastasio misses with a right hand
and Junior counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Junior looks for a takedown but Anastasio sprawls well.
Anastasio works the jab nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anastasio misses with an uppercut
and Junior counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Junior is defended easily by Anastasio.
Anthony Anastasio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gab Junior.
A cross from Anastasio lands.
Anastasio misses with a leg kick.
Junior blocks a low kick nicely.
Anastasio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Anastasio wants it to stay on the feet.
That kick from Anastasio tenderised Junior's leg. Junior is trying to keep his angry face on.
Junior fails with a takedown attempt.
Junior fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anastasio dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Junior. That did some damage!
Junior ducks under a wild hook from Anastasio.
Anastasio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Junior.
Junior looks winded!
Anastasio misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anastasio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Junior was well out of range. Poor timing from Anastasio.
Anastasio lets loose with a powerful body kick. Junior will feel that in the morning.
Anastasio throws a looping overhand right but Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Junior shoots in looking for a takedown. Anastasio tries to sprawl out of it but Junior keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anastasio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Junior takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Junior shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Anastasio napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Junior wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Anastasio, who protects the arm well.
Anastasio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Junior off and has taken his back!
What can Junior do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anastasio is hanging on to Junior's back as he tries to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anastasio tries to keep control of the position but Junior is staying busy.
Anastasio slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Anastasio keeps control of the position easily here as Junior tries to buck him off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

We're going to have a standup here because Anthony Anastasio wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Anastasio misses with a hook
and Junior counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anastasio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Anastasio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Anthony Anastasio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anastasio connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Anastasio dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anastasio connects with a right hand. Junior shakes it off.
Anastasio stuffs the takedown attempt from Junior. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Anastasio. That snapped Junior's head back.
Anastasio uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Junior is rocked!
Junior will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Anastasio throws a hook but Junior avoids it easily.
Anthony Anastasio is winning the standup battle so far.
Anastasio lands a jab to Junior's midsection.
Anastasio swings away with a body shot that misses

and Junior counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Anastasio controlling the position.
Junior stands up over Anastasio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Anastasio is trying to keep Junior in close.
Junior trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Junior trying to control but Anastasio is working from the bottom.
Junior looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Junior has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Anastasio misses the shot to the body.
Anastasio cracks Junior with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Junior tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Anastasio pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Junior is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anthony Anastasio!